LITTLE ROCK — Gidget Pambianchi, the former Arkansas Tech University softball coach who was fired last April, has filed a lawsuit in federal court against Arkansas Tech University, claiming her firing was the result of discrimination by school officials based on Pambianchi's sex and sexual orientation.

The 14-page filing claims Pambianchi was treated differently than male coaches at Arkansas Tech and was fired after school officials learned she was a lesbian. The university's board of trustees, who are listed as defendants in the lawsuit, upheld Pambianchi's termination after she appealed her firing and president Robert Brown and athletic director Steve Mullins overruled a review panel's recommendation Pambianchi be reinstated.

Brown, Mullins and Susie Nicholson, vice president of student services, are also named as defendants. Pambianchi is seeking back pay and additional compensation, according to the filing.

The school announced the firing of Pambianchi and Randall Trout, an assistant softball coach, in a statement last April. The lawsuit, filed Monday in U.S. District Court, claims Trout lodged a sexual harassment complaint against Pambianchi after she fired Trout for allegedly having a relationship with a player on the softball team. Pambianchi was suspended prior to her termination, according to the lawsuit.

A university spokesman said at the time of the firings the university released the statement due to "rumors around town."

Arkansas Blog recaps the lawsuit here. Pambianchi's full complaint can be downloaded here.